Committed volunteering: Diocese of Dresden-Meißen starts new project!

Committed volunteering: Diocese of Dresden-Meißen starts new project!

Meißen, Deutschland - On June 23, 2025, a remarkable special project for the development of commitment was launched in the diocese of Dresden-Meißen. The aim of this project is to strengthen voluntary work in the parishes and to meet the current challenges. Parishes have the option of applying to one of a maximum of twelve "special project points", each with 50% of a full -time position. These areas are intended to support the development -friendly structures over a period of 30 months in order to better address the needs of the community. The diocese reports that focuses on topics such as Citypastoral, Diakonische Gemeinde, as well as working with children, families and adolescents in rural areas.

The first special projects will start their work in the parishes of Annaberg-Buchholz, Aue-Bad Schlema, Leipzig, Meißen, Riesa and Zwickau in the parishes, followed by further starts in Döbeln, Freiberg and Gera in spring 2026. Lena Steinjan, the consultant for volunteering and committee work, will be accompanied and has the sustainable effect. Concepts for commitment funding are to be developed that also exist beyond the project period. Interested parishes can fall back on a digital work aid in which the experiences gained are prepared - a valuable step to pass on and network.

volunteering in change

But what does the current landscape of the volunteer in Germany look like? According to a Report of the Caritasverband For the diocese of Dresden-Meißen voluntarily. However, reality has changed, and the classic volunteering, which is based on long -term ties, no longer seems to be up to date. Young people in particular are increasingly involved in the short term, which became clear during the 2015 refugee crisis. Mechthild Gatter, department head in the diocesancaritas association, emphasizes that it is essential to make places of engagement visible in order to promote the connection between helpers and helpers.

A pilot project was launched to support various areas of voluntary commitment, such as debt counseling and emergency pastoral care. Manja Döcke presented the “Neighborhood Aid” project that offers older people support in everyday life. Such initiatives are of immense importance against the background of an aging population. Doris Walther from Caritas Meißen presented various relief services that rely on volunteers to maintain the offers for the community.

The numbers speak for themselves

But what are the real numbers of voluntary commitment in Germany? Statistics show that 40% of people in Germany voluntarily committed themselves in 2019. A Published report emphasizes that the commitment quota was 39.7%, which has been an increase since 1999 represents over 30%. The commitment rate is particularly high for 30- to 49-year-olds with 44.7%, followed by 14 to 29 year olds with 42%. The social field, sport and movement as well as cultural projects are the main fields in which people are involved.

The committed people often perform up to two hours a week, while 17.1% get involved at six hours or more per week. 57% actively use the Internet for their voluntary work. This shows how digitization contributes to the networking and activation of a wider audience.

Developments in volunteering make it clear that it is time to adapt the structures and find new ways to inspire people for voluntary activities. The diocese of Dresden-Meißen is on a promising path with its new project and relies on sustainable structures that are supposed to strengthen volunteering in the region.